77th Fighter Squadron hosts heritage flight Published April 12, 2006 By Tarsha Storey 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 77th Fighter Squadron Gamblers held their annual two-day reunion and brunch starting Jan. 27 to salute the squadron’s heritage and officers from World War II through today.The reunion tradition began 49 years ago. Each year attendees wear something red to the brunch. New Gamblers as well as Gamblers on their second assignment to the squadron sign their names on the tablecloths. The names are then embroidered with red thread to record and preserve the signature, said Maj. Andre Steur, 77th FS Gambler Reunion project officer. During this year’s reunion, there were three demonstrations, a P-51 Mustang demonstration flight, an F-16 demonstration flight and a heritage flight, said Maj. Steur. “(The heritage flight) is a salute to our heritage as a fighter squadron. Generally, an airplane from a certain era is part of the formation to commemorate a certain time in history. This year, that (airplane) was the P-51 Mustang -- one of the planes the Gamblers flew during WWII,” said Maj. Steur. Ninety people attended the reunion, including one Gambler from the 1960’s, two from the 1950’s and nine WWII pilots -- two of whom were prisoners of war, said Maj. Steur. “It’s an honor to host Gamblers from the past and listen to old fighter pilots share their sorties and history. It’s clear the success we enjoy today as an Air Force was built on their courage and sacrifice,” said Lt. Col. Donavan Godier, 77th FS commander.